Aluminum Removal?

Lazys Coral House · Sep 7, 2016

Hi all, I have a decent size aquaculture business with lots of frags. I use ceramic plugs, and as a result the system has quite a bit of Aluminum in it. Large water changes are not able to keep up with it and when it gets to high I have had STN events with acros and my leathers close up. After a large 75% water change it takes a good week or two for them to open up back up. I am not 100% sure this is from Aluminum but I would like to eliminate this as a potential cause. Does anyone know if there is some type of media available that absorbs aluminum?

bios · Sep 7, 2016

Only zeolite can be used to adsorbs metals by mechanical filtration
Other way algae

Lazys Coral House · Sep 8, 2016

Thanks Bios, I will check into that.
Anyone else have any additional suggestion inputs?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 11, 2016

I've heard the GFO may bind it.

Alfrareef · Sep 11, 2016

after the cleaning, why not use plugs made from a different material? it looks the plugs might be hurting your business and they are a very small part of the cost per frag.

Reefcowboy · Sep 11, 2016

Poly filter (coarse foam media) media supposedly removes metals, that could also be an option? How much al do you have?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 11, 2016

Reefcowboy said:
Poly filter (coarse foam media) media supposedly removes metals, that could also be an option? How much al do you have?

I don't think it is successful with aluminum from seawater.

jason2459 · Sep 11, 2016

I certainly haven't had any success in picking up Al from seawater with a polyfilter. At least not the form it was in.

If its desired to lower Al I'd suggest removing the source and water changes with lower Al content then the water it's replacing.

jason2459 · Sep 12, 2016

Also, just remembered the Triton folks, at least the owner, believes GFO removes some Al or at least he stated this at one time in the past. I don't know if it's true or if their stance has changed or not.

slicko · Sep 12, 2016

I have read Eshan (triton) state that using GFO will remove the Al and using Al phos media will remove the Iron accumilation from GFO so should be alternated between changes when running for phosphate removal

jason2459 · Sep 12, 2016

slicko said:
I have read Eshan (triton) state that using GFO will remove the Al and using Al phos media will remove the Iron accumilation from GFO so should be alternated between changes when running for phosphate removal

Which is odd to me. From what I understand the Triton method promotes a thick multi variety macro algae diverse section in the sump or refugium. Iron would be desirable. I would think they would promote GFO only and potentially iron dosing. I see no benficial need for Al. And I'm not sure GFO can even remove Al effectively or at all. I know Randy has commented on this before but can't remember the answer given right now.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 12, 2016

jason2459 said:
Which is odd to me. From what I understand the Triton method promotes a thick multi variety macro algae diverse section in the sump or refugium. Iron would be desirable. I would think they would promote GFO only and potentially iron dosing. I see no benficial need for Al. And I'm not sure GFO can even remove Al effectively or at all. I know Randy has commented on this before but can't remember the answer given right now.

I don't recall exactly either, but it wasn't enough to convince me to recommend the two media approach where they recommend alternative GFO and aluminum oxide..

Mortie31 · Sep 13, 2016

jason2459 said:
Which is odd to me. From what I understand the Triton method promotes a thick multi variety macro algae diverse section in the sump or refugium. Iron would be desirable. I would think they would promote GFO only and potentially iron dosing. I see no benficial need for Al. And I'm not sure GFO can even remove Al effectively or at all. I know Randy has commented on this before but can't remember the answer given right now.

It's probably because they want you to buy iron supplements from them...using only GFO would negate the need.. Not a cynic at all..

kfordy · Apr 25, 2021

Lazy said:
Hi all, I have a decent size aquaculture business with lots of frags. I use ceramic plugs, and as a result the system has quite a bit of Aluminum in it. Large water changes are not able to keep up with it and when it gets to high I have had STN events with acros and my leathers close up. After a large 75% water change it takes a good week or two for them to open up back up. I am not 100% sure this is from Aluminum but I would like to eliminate this as a potential cause. Does anyone know if there is some type of media available that absorbs aluminum?

I have cultured thalassiosira weissflogii to use in a mixed blend with phytoplankton to remove heavy metals ( with aluminium) from my reef tank.